Manchester City and Liverpool account for five of our Scout Picks XI ahead of another big weekend for the Premier League title race.
Three of the main Gameweek 30 captain options have made it into the selection after we carefully deliberated over the Scout Squad submissions from Paul, Joe, Neale and Peter.
As per usual, we are lining up in the 3-4-3 formation and have come in under budget at a value of £83.1m.
Goalkeeper
After a tricky spell earlier in the campaign, Manchester City and Ederson (£5.6m) seem to have rediscovered their ability to keep clean sheets, recording six in their last eight Gameweeks. No team has conceded fewer goals or shots in the box in the last four home matches as the Citizens either. Meanwhile, Watford have blanked in two of their last three on the road, hence why three of our Scout Squad panel selected Ederson as the best goalkeeper for Gameweek 30.
Defenders
We have overridden the Scout Squad vote for a second week running, this time putting Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.5m) in over Andrew Robertson. The latter received considerably stronger backing from the pundits but we believe that Alexander-Arnold could reward his owners with another big haul this weekend. In the last four away matches, Burnley
Our Scout Squad pundits were keen to exploit the current run of Jeffrey Schlupp (£4.5m) in the Crystal Palace side, three of them selecting him in their submissions. The former Leicester man has started the last five matches in a row in midfield for the Eagles and has been contributing attacking returns too. Since Gameweek 25, he has a goal and three assists. With Crystal Palace boasting the joint-best home defensive record outside of the top-six so far this season, there’s every chance that Schlupp could be in for a double-figure haul against Brighton on Saturday lunch-time.
Fabian Schär (£4.7m) is our chosen representative from the Newcastle defence for Gameweek 30. There was plenty of support for the Magpies’ back-line in the Scout Squad submissions, so we’ve gone with the cheapest out of Dubravka and the in-form Schär. In the last four home matches, only Wolves and Chelsea have conceded fewer big chances than Newcastle, while Everton are bottom of the league for big chances of their own in the last four matches. Schär himself has a goal and assist in his last four outings, having had the same number of total goal attempts and shots in the box as Paul Pogba in that time.
Midfielders
Mohamed Salah (£13.4m) is the chosen representative from Liverpool’s attacking ranks this week as Burnley come to Anfield. Two of our pundits selected him as the best midfield option for this Gameweek and we are backing the Egyptian to rediscover his form in front of the Liverpool fans. In the last four Gameweeks, no player has registered more shots on target than Salah who is averaging one attacking return per home game this season, ten goals and four assists in 14 appearances at Anfield.
Like Salah, Raheem Sterling (£11.4m) was selected as the best midfield option for Gameweek 30 by two of our pundits, Paul and Peter to be precise. The Manchester City man is preparing for the visit of Watford to the Etihad Stadium, hoping to continue a decent run of form at home. Sterling has registered attacking returns in each of the last four matches he has started in front of the City faithful, combining for three goals and five assists. Meanwhile, the Hornets come to Manchester having lost 5-0 to Liverpool in their last away match.
With West Ham set to face a Cardiff side without Sol Bamba and Sean Morrison still rusty upon his return from injury, Manuel Lanzini (£6.4m) gets into the Scout Picks for the first time this season. The Argentinian has looked good since returning from injury in 27 and appears to have already re-established himself in the Manuel Pellegrini’s side. In the last four Gameweeks, Lanzini is showing the best minutes per chance of any Hammers midfielder.
David Brooks (£5.0m) makes a great budget enabler for our Scout Picks XI as Bournemouth prepare to face Huddersfield this weekend. While the Cherries have been poor away from home of late, the Welshman’s return from injury could be just the catalyst they need to get back to winning ways. In the seven matches before his injury, Brooks registered three goals and three assists.
Forwards
Sergio Aguero (£11.8m) has proved the king of the Etihad Stadium in recent weeks and months. For that reason, he was chosen as the best forward option by all four of our Scout Squad pundits for Gameweek 30. The Argentinian has scored seven goals in his last four home matches coming from eight shots on target, only Roberto Firmino has more. Crucially, those efforts have come in just 245 minutes proving how even more damaging Aguero can be if given the full 90 minutes. Pep Guardiola will have to consider his assets ahead of a midweek Champions League meeting with Schalke 04 but with Gabriel Jesus available again, it could be the Brazilian that is used on Tuesday night.
Jamie Vardy (£8.9m) was another player whose inclusion in the Scout Picks was fairly straight forward. Selected by all four of our pundits in their Scout Squad entries, the Leicester forward has the most appealing fixture of the Gameweek: at home against Fulham. It’s three goals in his last four Premier League outings for Vardy, while the Cottagers’ defence has allowed more shots in the box than any other side over the last four Gameweeks.
Salomón Rondón (£5.9m) looks like he could be the budget forward to turn heads in Gameweek 30 based on his underlying statistics. Over the last four Gameweeks, no player has had more shots inside the penalty box or more efforts on target. Meanwhile, he has played 10 key passes, which could be setting him up for an all-action performance against Everton at St James’ Park.
Substitutes
Gameweek 30 could finally be when Ricardo Pereira (£5.4m) finally rewards those who signed him for Leicester’s appealing fixtures. Only Huddersfield have scored fewer away goals this season than Fulham who could allow the Foxes’ wing-back the chance for returns at both ends of the pitch this weekend.
No player has had more shots in the last four Gameweeks than Harvey Barnes (£5.5m), so he offers a serious chance of attacking returns against Fulham in Gameweek 30.
Wilfried Zaha (£6.9m) will be licking his lips ahead of a derby match with Brighton on Saturday lunch-time. He has scored five goals in nine matches against the Seagulls in all competitions. In his last six Premier League outings, he has been involved in six goals, five of his own and one assist.
Community Champion
Our Community Champion this week is Bøss star, who has gone for a 3-4-3 line-up of Guaita; Alexander-Arnold, Chilwell, Robertson; Anderson, Brooks, Sterling, Mane; Vardy, Aguero, Zaha.
